Advocacy for Children and Families

Adoption and Foster Care Are Complicated.

Advocacy is powerful. And the child welfare system needs it — fragmented laws, under-resourced agencies, plus schools and group homes that can’t meet the needs of our kids with challenges.

Adoptive, foster, and kinship families are navigating a convoluted system that needs help. At Families Rising, we are committed to advocating for the welfare of children in need of loving families and providing support to adoptive and foster parents.

You Can Make a Difference.

Why become a child welfare advocate?

Advocacy plays a crucial role in effecting change in attitudes, policies, practices, and laws that impact the lives of children in foster care and adoptive families. By becoming an advocate, you can:

  • Influence policymakers at the state, provincial, or federal level.
  • Share your personal story with the media to raise awareness.
  • Inform social services administrators about important issues.
  • Engage with the public to shed light on issues that matter to you.

Our advocacy efforts aim to influence resource allocation, change perceptions, and transform the foster care and adoption landscape.

Advocacy Resources

Getting Started: Advocacy Basics for Child Welfare Laws

For the US and Canada

Key US Child Welfare Laws

Familiarize yourself with some of the most impactful legislative acts in recent history.

Advocacy Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Help You Change Lives

Everything you need to make big change in the system.

FEATURED WEBINAR

Advocating for Adoption Assistance

From Families Rising Academy: advocate effectively for adoption assistance programs, ensuring ongoing support for children adopted from foster care.

5 Things You Can Do Right Now

You have important knowledge to share, and your thoughts and opinions can persuade policymakers to make choices in the best interests of children and families.

Here are five actions you can take:

  • Encourage local media to share stories of older children finding loving adoptive families.

  • Share information with legislators about waiting children and the support adoptive families need.

  • Volunteer with local adoption organizations to participate in advocacy and family support activities.

  • Raise awareness in your community about the importance of adoption for children without families.
  • Stay informed about adoption-related legislation and contact your legislators to voice your support.

Two child welfare professionals, possibly social workers, are sitting at a table with their heads down writing some notes

Contact Your Representative

Make your voice heard and change lives. Tell your policymaker that you want better for children and families.

Anyone can contact their Senator, House Representative, and other decision-makers to lobby for better policies. Find yours below or call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 to ask for them by name.

US Policymakers

Canadian Policymakers